Chapter 26: Let's Talk About It in the Spring

In the end, Lu Jiaor sold forty-two bottles of her rheumatism and leg pain ointment for three yuan each.

What was that about the first ten people getting a special price of three yuan? It simply didn't work. Everyone ignored the stipulation and insisted on paying only three yuan, while also demanding that she give special consideration to their neighbors in the alley. They didn't care about other alleys, but those living in their own had to receive a discount.

Lu Jiaor had only decocted seventy bottles in total. After giving one to Auntie Fang—who later repurchased five—and selling one each to Auntie Cai and Auntie Ma, fifty bottles were already accounted for.

As for the remaining twenty, Lu Jiaor had taken them to the local post office just yesterday to mail to her family back home. Along with the ointment, she included bottles of twenty pills each for colds, coughs and phlegm, headaches, diarrhea, and fever—five bottles of each—tucked in with a letter explaining how to use them.

Furthermore, she had instructed Su Yulan to sell fifteen of those twenty bottles of ointment, keep one for the family's own use, and gift the remaining four to her uncles and aunt. The same went for the other medications: keep one of each for themselves and distribute the rest among their relatives.

This was Lu Jiaor’s way of thanking them for how they had looked after her and her family. Even among relatives, one can never be too polite. As for the superstition that giving medicine as a gift is unlucky, the people in the countryside didn't harbor such concerns. After all, the medicine wasn't cheap, and coming from a major city like Beijing, it was practically considered a miracle cure in their eyes.

"Little Lu, is the ointment really all gone?"

As soon as Lu Jiaor announced that she had sold out, those who had rushed over upon hearing the news but missed out followed her, asking with utter disbelief.

"It’s really gone, I’m not lying to you. I didn’t make much, and the medicinal herbs are both limited and expensive. At three yuan a bottle, I’m not making any profit at all. Most of the herbs were bought from the traditional Chinese medicine supply station—if you don't believe me, go ask about their prices. Plus, the bottles themselves cost me ten cents each."

She had even used firewood instead of coal briquettes for the decoction, which was less efficient and cost her even more in fuel. Lu Jiaor was being completely honest. Thinking it over, she felt she had suffered a significant loss; it was essentially a labor of love, and after crunching the numbers, she had barely broken even.

She shook her head, determined not to do this again.

"Alright, Little Lu wouldn't lie to you. Her ointment bottles are larger than those jars of vanishing cream. Those small boxes of cream start at five yuan each. At three yuan, Little Lu is lucky if she isn't losing money. Don't push her too far; she has to make a living too. For medicine that actually works, it would be worth buying even at eight or ten yuan, let alone five."

"And you lot, stop taking an inch and asking for a mile. It’s one thing to get a bargain, but to expect someone to make medicine for you for nothing? Have you no shame? Little Lu said from the start that only the first ten people would get the three-yuan price, yet every one of you forced that price on her. I’m embarrassed for you! Little Lu, don’t mind them; you do what you need to do."

"Also, Little Lu, the cough and phlegm medicine you gave me worked wonders for my husband. I’d like to buy some to keep on hand. I heard you have cold medicine, fever medicine, and diarrhea medicine—I want some of those too. Tell me how much it is, and I’ll pay you."

Before Lu Jiaor could respond, Auntie Fang, who had been standing to the side, was nearly fuming on her behalf. She had been getting medicine from Lu Jiaor over the past few days—some of it for free, and the rest at such a low price—that she would have felt terrible not speaking up for her.

"Auntie Fang, I have them all. I’ll get them for you. This time, I’ll still give you the discount: two yuan a bottle."

In reality, she should have charged at least three, but Auntie Fang had always supported her, refused to take her money, and often brought her gifts in return. Lu Jiaor felt that such a person was worth befriending, and she was happy to earn a little less.

"Alright, I trust you."

Although Lu Jiaor’s medicine was slightly more expensive than what the hospital prescribed, Auntie Fang trusted her more. Even if she were being swindled, it would only be this once, and it was only a few yuan.

Lu Jiaor brought out three bottles for her, each labeled with the name of the medicine, usage, and dosage. Auntie Fang had come prepared, bringing plenty of money, and immediately counted out six yuan to hand over.

"Little Lu, I want the same three bottles as Auntie Fang—no, add another bottle of the cough and phlegm medicine."

An elderly gentleman who wasn't short on cash hadn't left after the ointment was sold out. Seeing Auntie Fang buying other medicines, he quickly followed suit, figuring he could afford to spend a few yuan.

"Little Lu, I want the same as Old Man Niu. Whatever he’s having, I’ll take the same."

"Then I’ll have one bottle for cough and phlegm, one for colds, and one for fever."

"I’ll take a bottle for coughs as well."

"Little Lu, it’s two yuan a bottle, right? Then I’ll take a bottle of cold medicine."

"If it’s two yuan a bottle, I’ll have the cough and cold medicine too."

After Old Man Niu made his bold declaration, others followed, though not everyone was as wealthy as him, as their pensions and savings weren't as substantial.

Everyone certainly had a dozen yuan or so, but not every household had multiple adults earning a salary to support only two or three children. Some families had only two workers who also had to support elderly parents and children; the financial burden was quite different. Therefore, they wouldn't spend money on Lu Jiaor’s medicine unless necessary, as it was pricier than the hospital's.

Although she had given Auntie Fang that price and others were clamoring for it, Lu Jiaor decided not to fuss or aggressively refuse or raise the price. She had already decided that once this batch was gone, she wouldn't be decocting any more pills for the time being. She would have to wait until spring to go into the mountains and forage for herbs again before resuming production.

By the time everyone had left, it was past seven in the evening. Lu Jiaor didn't feel like cooking an elaborate meal; she boiled a pot of noodles, dropped in two eggs and a couple of cabbage leaves, and that was her dinner.

After eating, she took inventory and realized that, aside from the ointment, there was very little of the other medications left. She figured they would likely sell out tomorrow.

The next day, as expected, the remaining medicine was snatched up in a single morning. Throughout the afternoon and evening, several more small groups of people came by, all arriving with high hopes only to leave disappointed, repeatedly asking when she would make more.

"Medicine? That will have to wait until next spring when I go to the Fragrant Hills in the suburbs to forage. You can come back then."

No matter who asked, Lu Jiaor gave the same answer: wait for spring.

"Little Lu, can't you make it now? We can't wait until next spring!"

"Yeah, Little Lu, aren't there herbs at the Chinese medicine station? You could buy some and make more!"

Lu Jiaor shook her head without hesitation, looking quite unwilling, and stated bluntly, "Buying herbs directly is too expensive. I wouldn't make any money at all. It’s better to go forage for them myself later; at least that way I can earn enough for a meal."

So, they would just have to wait. She wasn't in any rush; as long as she had money and food, she had nothing to worry about.

The crowd: "..."